Aimai

Chapter One

"Oh, go bed a snoralian." I spat at Kai.

"Been there, done that. Darling, you must practice your weak insults. For the record, snoralians are fantastic in bed. Minus the scales and lack of brain cells." Kai retorted.

"Of course you have. Must be exhausting having thousands of years of memories, old man."

"I'll have you know nothing about me is old, little one."

"I stabbed you once, I'll do it again."

"Because I let you. Not that you possibly possess superior skills or any set of skills against a fox demon."

I rolled my eyes trying to come up with a clever response but he chuckled at my lack of wit and continued reading his dusty bullshit book. I turned back to face the open air and rested my elbows on the cold balcony railing.

Marethis seemed peaceful at first glance. Quiet chilling air and no movement in sight from my balcony. Yet I knew creatures of this realm slept or hunted in silence behind the darkness. I felt an eerie sensation that crawled up my arms and down my spine as I stared further into the void. I wondered if something was looking back at me.  Vibrant  stars dressed the sky surrounding two full moons that illuminated the night. One always slightly smaller than the other but both exceptionally mesmerizing. My breath was visible with each exhale. White clouds left my lips and my fingers gripped the cold railing tightly until my knuckles whitened. Would anyone miss me if the darkness decided to swallow me whole? Maybe then, I would feel like I belonged. Maybe then, I wouldn't feel so different. There were nights when a slight breeze lifted the hairs on my neck. The calming sensation of the wind created a ripple effect that sent my entire mind in a state of ease. Then, there were nights when my thoughts ran rampant and peace was impossible to find. Violent stress ran through my veins like ice. Every breath was quick and miscalculated. Tonight was one of those tormenting nights.

"Ruyara, I think it is wise for you to get some rest. You will not find any by having a staring contest with the forest." A familiar voice awakened me from my grunge thoughts.

"Kai, being my guardian doesn't mean you have to pretend to care about my well being." I retorted and rested my elbows on the golden railing of my balcony.

"Yes, it did feel quite odd. I understand that I am doomed for eternity but I am not the sentimental type. However, if you fall ill then I would have to deal with your congestion." He spoke like butter with his accent that I barely recalled what he was saying in the first place.

"I don't understand why out of all guardians I could have been chained to, I was bound to the biggest disrespectful jerk to ever exist." I raised my index fingers to my temples and rubbed them gently to sooth an immense headache that threatened to surface.

"Disrespectful, handsome, cunning, powerful jerk. Has the governess not taught you well in your lessons, young one?" Kai corrected me slowly with a single index finger pointed upward while he held a book that hid his face from my view.

"Don't call me that." I spat.

"You are a young one."

"I am not. I'm an adult already."

"You are thirty years old when a typical fae lives to be around five hundred. By those calculations, you are in fact a young one." He snickers at my silence.

"You should learn to treat me with respect. I'm not like everyone else to bow my head or remain silent in your presence." I crossed my arms and waited for his response.

The book in his hands engulfed in flames and vanished. Kai abruptly stood and dematerialized. He reappeared inches away from my face, glowing embers fell to the ground around him. His scent invaded my senses heavily. Peppermint and firewood were two smells I didn't expect to find so pleasing together. I stood perfectly still as he leaned closer giving me a better view of his chiseled shaved jaw, short shaggy black hair and piercing orange eyes. Kai was deadly attractive which made him even more dangerous along with his abilities. The perfect predator.